With reference to a proposal made by the Malta Developers Association, that abandoned property should be taxed, whilst property that is kept empty should not, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson, Prof. Arnold Cassola, said, “the uglification of certain parts of Malta and the gobbling up of huge chunks of Maltese countryside is not only due to the amount of abandoned properties but even more so to the ever growing amount of vacant properties in the country, which have now reached the amount of 70,000.

He added, “whilst these properties remain vacant, the building spree continues galore in previously pristine areas of our country. Alternattiva Demokratika therefore reiterates that, as proposed in our 2013 Electoral Manifesto, fiscal measures against land speculation by means of a tax on property kept empty for the purpose of speculation, should be introduced. This would be an effective way by which to meet social needs without destroying the environment.”

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